Lock-joint



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. P. ASGHEGK.

LOCK JOINT. I

Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet2.

H. F. ASGHECK.- LOCK JOINT.

N0. 555,201. PatentedTeb. 25, 1896.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. ASOHEOK, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

LOCK-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,201, dated February25, 1896.

Application filed June 10, 1895. Serial No, 552,325. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. ASCHECK, a citizen of the United States,residing in Alameda, county of Alameda, State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Look- Joints; and I hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of joints, rigid orbendable, asrequired, and which may be properly termed lock-joints.

My invention consists in a joint composed of a pin or stud in each ofthe parts to be joined, and a guide in each of said parts to receive andpermit the travel of the pin or stud of the other part, said guidesbeing corresponding but reversed and each having a portion in which theothers pin or stud may play about and move past its own pin or stud,whereby the joint is bendable, and a portion in which each pin or studis locked and locks the other against a movement about each other,whereby the joint is rendered rigid.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective joint orhinge, applicable in all cases and to all structures in which a part ormember has at one time to be turned or moved with relation to another,and at another time to be held rigid or locked with respect to thatother. For the sake of example merely and to suggest its utility inpractical structures, I may mention in this connection laddersconsisting of a plurality of sections connected by my joint, so that thesections when extended in line to lengthen the ladder for use will beheld rigid, and when the joint is relieved said sections may be bent orfolded into small compass, table -1eaves requiring to be straightenedout and held rigidly in a horizontal plane and again to be dropped to avertical position, and the folding handles of parasols and umbrellas.These, as I have said, are but suggestions, and I do not wish to beunderstood as confining my invention to these devices, as it is intendedfor use in connection with any and all devices, mechanisms, andstructures, in which, as heretofore stated, one part has to be movedwith relation to another and also held rigid with respect thereto.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my invention, Figure l is a perspective view showing the two membersor sections of my joint separated. Fig. 2'is a side elevation showingthe joint complete and in a locked or rigid condition. Fig. 3 is anelevation showing the movement of the joint from a locked to a free orbendable condition. Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the joint in a freeorbendable condition. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing one member orsection of the joint as part of the structure to which the joint isapplied, and also as having the pin way or guide in the form of a grooveinstead of a slot. Fig. 6 is a view showing a locking position on bothends of the guides, and also showing stops or seats for the pins orstuds at different points of the guides, whereby the joint may be lockedat different angles. Fig. 7 is a view showing this looking at an angle.Fig. 8 is a view showing the turning portion of the guides in convergingstraight lines in distinction to curved lines.

In Fig. 1 A is a plate which maybe secured to some part, such as S, ofthe structure to receive the joint. Projecting from this plate is a pinor stud a, and in said plate is formed a slot a having a curved portionand a straight portion, as shown. B is another plate secured to a pieceS. This plate has a stud or pin 1) and a slot 1) composed of a curvedand a straight portion. hen the two plates are fitted together the pinor stud a enters and travels in the slot Z), and the pin or stud benters and travels in the slot a, and said pins or studs may be headedtherein or otherwise fitted with enlarged ends to prevent them fromcoming out. The slots in the two plates correspond in shape, but arereversed end for end and one is inverted with relation to the other. Thestraight portions of the slots need not be of any given length. They maybe as short as the diameter of the pins or studsthat is, just longenough to receive said pins or studs and remove them from the curvedpassage way. themselves represent anypassage, guide, way or track forthe pins or studs. They need not be slots, for, as shown in Fig. 5, agroove may answer the purpose, and it is plain that other forms ofguides, or ways, or tracks may The slots IOO be used, provided theyoccupy the relative positions shown and are shaped to the same end.

By referring to Fig. 2 it willbe seen thatby pushing the two plates Aand B together, so that their respective pins or studs will travel overinto the straight portion of the others slot or guide the plates will beconnected at two separate points-namely, at the two studsand neither canturn about the other, as neither can act as a pivotal center, for thereason that each is locked and locks the other against any movement in acurved line. The joint, as shown in Fig. 2, is, therefore, rigid.

To render the joint bendable, the two sections must be pulled out againuntil the pins or studs are removed from the straight portions of theslots, and, thereupon, either section may turn with relation to theother, either one of the studs or pins acting as a pivota-l center,while the other stud or pins travels freely about it in the curvedportion of the slotway or guide. This movement may take place at theentrance to the curved portions of the slots or guides, but in order toavoid lost motion and undue play, audio insure steadiness and accuracy,it is best to continue the travel of the two pins or studs by one other,as shown in Fig. 23, until they reach the limits of their respectiveslots, as shown in Fig. at. In this last position the two sections ofthe joint may freely turn about each other, or either may turn about theother.

In Fig. 5 I have show-n a part marked O, which may represent a portionof any structure, and in this I have shown the guide or way in the formof a groove 0 and the stud or pin 0 projecting directly from said part.

In Fig. 6 I have shown that the locking portion of the guides or slotsis not con-fined to one end, but may be on either or both ends, thusmaking it possible to lock the joint by pulling the parts apart and torender it bendplay about and to pass each other.

able by pushing them together, or viceversa, as hereinbefore described,according to which end the locking portion may be. I have also shown inthis figure and in Fig. '7 a means for rendering the joint rigid at anyangle desired. This is effected by means of the corresponding notches amade in each of the turning portions of the guides or slots, which byreceiving the pins or studs will lock the parts at difierent angles.

In Fig. 8 I have shown that the turning portions of the guides or slotsneed not be described in curved lines, but may be on any lines, such asthe converging straight oneshere shown, which will enable the pins orstuds to I have also shown in this figure that it is not essential thatthe locking portions be in straight lines, as they may be curved or bentin any direction, so that they they correspond and lock the pins orstuds against a turning movement about each other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A lock-joint composed of a pin or stud in each of the parts to bejoined, and a guide in each part, to receive and permit the travel ofthe pin or stud of the other part, said guides being corresponding butreversed, and each having a portion in which the others pin or stud mayplay about and move past its own pin or stud, whereby the joint isbendable, and a portion in which each pin or stud is locked and locksthe other against a movement about each other, whereby the joint isrendered rigid.

In witness whereof I have here-unto set my hand.

HENRY F. ASOIIECK. lVitnesses S. H. Nounsn, J ESSIE C. BRODIE.

